Monthly Guide

Best National Parks in June

Summer begins and so does peak season. Most roads and trails are open, including high-elevation passes in Glacier and Rocky Mountain. Alaska's parks enter their brief, spectacular season. The trade-off: crowds surge at the popular parks, and campground reservations are essential. The desert Southwest becomes dangerously hot.

Top 10 Parks for June

Ranked by our monthly visit score — a blend of weather comfort, crowd levels, and park accessibility.

#1A cloud-filled volcanic crater at sunrise with a mountain rising behind

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes

HI

Moderate Crowds

Summer crowds arrive with drier weather. Temps climb into mid-70s. Early morning hikes on Kīlauea Iki beat the heat.

#2Yellow flowers in foreground extending out along a rocky coastline to a natural arch.

Channel Islands

CA

ComfortableHidden Gem

Summer starts with warm days and high crowds. Boat demand surges, but conditions stay calm for kayaking and snorkeling.

#3A double waterfall blurs over layered rocks.

Glacier

MT

Comfortable

Going-to-the-Sun Road opens mid-month. Peak wildflowers. Snow lingers on high trails. Best weather-to-crowd ratio of summer.

#4Bristlecone pine tree with a dark blue sky behind it with a bright Jupiter shining

Great Basin

NV

Room to BreatheHidden GemDark Sky

Summer arrives with warm days and wildflowers at high elevations. Wheeler Peak Trail opens, but expect midday heat at lower sites.

#5Waimoku waterfall in the park's Kipahulu District

Haleakalā

HI

Very CrowdedHidden Gem

Warmest month with minimal rain. High crowds. Clear skies make crater views exceptional. Reserve sunrise spots early.

#6A steep granite slope leads from forest to a bare alpine landscape

Sequoia & Kings Canyons

CA

Comfortable

Mineral King Road opens. High Sierra trails accessible. Warm days, cool nights. Crowds build but remain moderate.

#7A crowd of people standing along a wooden boardwalk watches a geyser erupt.

Yellowstone

ID, MT, WY

Comfortable

Full access returns with warming weather. Heavy rain mixes with crowds as summer season launches across all regions.

#8overlooking a lake

Voyageurs

MN

ComfortableHidden Gem

Prime season begins. Water temps climb into the 60s. Fishing peaks and hiking trails dry out. This is the best overall month.

#9Hiking tracks carved through three feet of snow wind through a heavy snow-laden forest.

Acadia

ME

Very Crowded

Peak hiking weather arrives with moderate crowds. The Beehive and Precipice open, and Thunder Hole shows real power after rain.

#10Snow blankets a red rock landscape of tall rock spires beneath an early morning sky

Bryce Canyon

UT

Very CrowdedDark Sky

Warm and dry with long daylight hours. Crowds stay heavy but manageable. Start Navajo Loop early to avoid afternoon heat on Wall Street.

Parks to Skip in June

These parks score lowest for June — typically due to harsh weather, road closures, or inaccessibility.

Joshua Tree Dangerously hot — average highs reach 109°F. Not safe for most outdoor activities.
Death Valley Dangerously hot — average highs reach 115°F. Not safe for most outdoor activities.
Saguaro Dangerously hot — average highs reach 107°F. Not safe for most outdoor activities.
Big Bend Uncomfortably hot at 103°F. Heat limits hiking to early morning hours only.
Carlsbad Caverns Uncomfortably hot at 100°F. Heat limits hiking to early morning hours only.